Recommendations for DAC+AMP Stack 2022?

[DAPpower]

Hello, I'm looking for a decent DAC+AMP stack, anyone know a good setup that has MQA decoding and DSD512 support?

I used to have the iFi iDSD Pro stack but I sold it as I needed emergency funds, I'm now looking for a similar sounding setup that doesn't color the sound too much.

Looking to drive headphones like the ZMF Verite Closed ect.

Budget is up to $1500-$2000

 

[Giru]

Hello, I'm looking for a decent DAC+AMP stack, anyone know a good setup that has MQA decoding and DSD512 support?

I used to have the iFi iDSD Pro stack but I sold it as I needed emergency funds, I'm now looking for a similar sounding setup that doesn't color the sound too much.

Looking to drive headphones like the ZMF Verite Closed ect.

Budget is up to $1500-$2000

2000 is a good budget. If you're looking to buy new I'll recommend extending the budget a wee bit and going for Gustard X26 Pro as DAC and Kinki Vision THR-1 for amplification. Great synergy and pretty neutral from my time with this set.
If you cannot extend the budget, look at used deals and score a used Violectric V220. Get a new topping D90SE. This combo sounds very good too (neutral sound signature).

 

[DAPpower]

2000 is a good budget. If you're looking to buy new I'll recommend extending the budget a wee bit and going for Gustard X26 Pro as DAC and Kinki Vision THR-1 for amplification. Great synergy and pretty neutral from my time with this set.
If you cannot extend the budget, look at used deals and score a used Violectric V220. Get a new topping D90SE. This combo sounds very good too (neutral sound signature).

Thanks, I'll give those a peek.

I've heard some bad things about the Topping DAC and Amp, the D90 and the D90SE seem to have an overly bright tuning and the A90 amp has reported issues where it damages headphones or the op amp component breaks too easily causing permanent damage that will cause distorted output?

 

[Giru]

Thanks, I'll give those a peek.

I've heard some bad things about the Topping DAC and Amp, the D90 and the D90SE seem to have an overly bright tuning and the A90 amp has reported issues where it damages headphones or the op amp component breaks too easily causing permanent damage that will cause distorted output?

Yes that's true. Overall the QC on topping units is not too good. I would esp never recommend their amps. The D90SE though is a good VFM DAC that will gel exceedingly well with the violectric amp (since they're slightly on the warm side of neutral; taking the edginess out of the D90SE). The D90 can be a good placeholder DAC while you save up to buy a better one.
I recommended topping considering your budget and demand for a relatively neutral sound. If you can do with some coloration; there are a lot of DACs that can fit the bill.

Again; the Gustard and Kinki combo should be pretty much unbeatable if you can extend the budget.

 

[DAPpower]

Yes that's true. Overall the QC on topping units is not too good. I would esp never recommend their amps. The D90SE though is a good VFM DAC that will gel exceedingly well with the violectric amp (since they're slightly on the warm side of neutral; taking the edginess out of the D90SE). The D90 can be a good placeholder DAC while you save up to buy a better one.
I recommended topping considering your budget and demand for a relatively neutral sound. If you can do with some coloration; there are a lot of DACs that can fit the bill.

Again; the Gustard and Kinki combo should be pretty much unbeatable if you can extend the budget.

Thank you so much, that stack sounds pretty darn good and not too overly expensive, this may sound like a dumb reason but how about another similarly decent amp option to pair with the Gustard or D90SE that also has a balanced 4.4mm pentacon output instead of XLR only?

 

[Giru]

Thank you so much, that stack sounds pretty darn good and not too overly expensive, this may sound like a dumb reason but how about another similarly decent amp option to pair with the Gustard or D90SE that also has a balanced 4.4mm pentacon output instead of XLR only?

Hmmmm.
Unless your hp cables are all terminated in 4.4, I see no reason going for an amp with a 4.4 instead of (or in addition to) an XLR port.
A full size XLR is not only better but has lower contact resistance (generally speaking) compared to TRS (or TRRS) based connectors (again: gross generalisation).

The higher end desktop HP amps will rarely come with 4.4 ports since many upper tier headphones are strictly terminated in either 6.3 or XLR. So my suggestion is not to go hunting for an amp with 4.4 just coz one of your cables is 4.4 or if you're thinking that 4.4 will be future proof. Infact I'm at a loss recollecting one's that come with 4.4 (serious audiophile amps anyway) (sennheiser hdv 820 comes to mind tho; unsure about its amplification quality) . Many new AIO devices coming out with 4.4 but I don't see the trend catching up to these amps anytime soon.

 

[DAPpower]

Hmmmm.
Unless your hp cables are all terminated in 4.4, I see no reason going for an amp with a 4.4 instead of (or in addition to) an XLR port.
A full size XLR is not only better but has lower contact resistance (generally speaking) compared to TRS (or TRRS) based connectors (again: gross generalisation).

The higher end desktop HP amps will rarely come with 4.4 ports since many upper tier headphones are strictly terminated in either 6.3 or XLR. So my suggestion is not to go hunting for an amp with 4.4 just coz one of your cables is 4.4 or if you're thinking that 4.4 will be future proof. Infact I'm at a loss recollecting one's that come with 4.4 (serious audiophile amps anyway) (sennheiser hdv 820 comes to mind tho; unsure about its amplification quality) . Many new AIO devices coming out with 4.4 but I don't see the trend catching up to these amps anytime soon.

Thanks a lot! I guess I'm just used to the neutral sound signiature of the ifi stack, sorry to ask again but do you know a stack that has a bit more coloration from your knowledge probably a teeny bit warm but not too much? I wish there was a proper list of devices and stacks that are updated regularly becuase there just so many dacs and amps out there, its hard to shop for one.

 

[Giru]

Thanks a lot! I guess I'm just used to the neutral sound signiature of the ifi stack, sorry to ask again but do you know a stack that has a bit more coloration from your knowledge probably a teeny bit warm but not too much? I wish there was a proper list of devices and stacks that are updated regularly becuase there just so many dacs and amps out there, its hard to shop for one.

I think the V220 will be a good option in this case. I own a V281 and it's a really nice amp. The 220 should be no different. It should pair nicely with the Gustard and more importantly should fit your budget.

The H20 from Gustard can also be a good alternative if you can change the stock op amps to sparkos or orange discrete ones (I've heard the sparkos with it and it was fairly warm).

Hope this helps!

PS: For the price though, I think the Kinki is a sweet amp. Lot's of power and pleasant sounding right out of the box.

 

[ThanatosVI]

Schiit Bifrost 2 + Jotunheim 2 would be a nice stack in that Budget.

 

[DAPpower]

Schiit Bifrost 2 + Jotunheim 2 would be a nice stack in that Budget.

Thanks, I'm going to go with the Gustard and Kinki route, I had the Jot 2 and I had 2 fail on me (op amps failed, distorted output) so I no longer trust the Jot 2.